Improvement in mattresses



' W. F; W-EHRMANN.

Improvement in Mattresses.

Patented Sep.24,1872.

FIG./.

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Fiche,

JU TED To all whom it may 'o0ncern:

WILLIAM F. WEHRMANN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

I IMPROVEMENT lN MATTRESSES.

Specification forming part (if Letters Patent-No. 181,727, dated September 24, 18772.

Be .it known that-I, WILLIAM F. WEHR- MANN, of, Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Im- 'provement's in Mattresses, of which the following is a specification:

Nature and Objects of the Invention. This invention relates to that class of matitresses whose frames are provided with. a;

hingedportion which is'icapable of being ele-v ivated at any desired angle, so as to serve as a, bolster or pillowfor the bed; and

The first part of my improvementconsist's in pivoting to the hinged portion of the mattress-frame two curved ratchet-bars, with whoseteeth engage spring-bolts, that are capable of being retracted whenever it is desired to depress the bolster, by means of1two cords which pass through opposite sides :of the frame, and whose ends are provided with rings or handles. This provision of the two cords enables the retaining devices to be operated from either side of the mattress, and consequently the bolster can be adjusted with the greatest facility,no matter what position the bed may occupyin the room; while the ratchetbars allow the bolster to be elevated without operating said cords in any manner whatever.

The second part of my improvement consists in providing eachend of the frame with a hinged section, and by alternately employing these sections as bolsters the mattress is prevented sagging down at one place. ,As the wear is thus rendered more uniform the mattress willconsequently last much longer than if a single bolster was used-it being understood that each of the aforesaid bolsters'is provided with a precisely similar arrangement of curved ratchet-bars and retaining bolts, as hereinafter more fully explained.

. Description of the Accompmtying Drawing, Figure 1. is a perspective View of a mattress embodying my improvementsone of the hinged sections being shown elevated, and the canvas removed from the end of the frame so as to expose the retaining devices; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the mattressthe elevated bolster shown being the opposite one to that represented in the preceding illustration;

- and Fig. 3 is an. enlarged perspective view of one end of the frame and its accompanying retaining devices, the hinged section being elevated.

v General Description. The principal member of the mattress coni sists of 'a rectangular frame, A, having transverse rails B, to which are secured the customary supporting-springs O, which may" be of any approved form. These springs serve to support the central portion D of-the mattress. The ends of the main frame A have the represented inclined terminations a, which serve as seats for the hinged portions E E, whose upholstered surfaces F F constitute the bolsters of the bed. The swinging members E E are hinged to the main frame at e e, and are provided with transverse slats G for the attachment of spring 9, which latter serves to impart elasticity to the bolsters of the mattress.

to disengage them from the ratchet-barsI I, the inner ends of the stems L L are provided I with grooved pulleys M M, around which are rove the operating cords N N. These cords have their inner ends secured to a pin, 0, at the midlength of rail B, while their outer ends are furnished with rings or handles or loops n n, Wherewith said cords may be more readily operated. The cord N, after being se-' cured to the pin 0 passes to the top and around the pulley M; thence under and around to the top of'pulley M, and over through the opposite side of swinging-frame E, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3. The other cord, IN, is arranged in a precisely similar but reverse. manner. P are staples or guides, which confine the bars I I to such a position aswill insure their engagement with their appropriate spring-bolts.

:rrrcn.

Operation.

In the normal condition of the mattress the hinged sections E E rest upon the inclined termination Q of the main frame, as shown at opposite ends in Figs. 1 and-2; and when both of said sections are closed the mattress proper D and bolsters F F are all in the same horizontal plane. To adjust either of these bolsters to any desired angle it is only necessary to raise the outer end of the hinged section to the proper position and then leave it without any further manipulation, as the springbolts J J will instantly engage with the teeth 5 'i and thereby maintain the bolster securely in position for an indefinite period of time.

It will be seen that this elevation of the hinged sections can be accomplished without operating the cords N N in any manner whatever, and, consequently, both hands of the operator are at liberty to raise said sections, which is an advantage peculiar to my mattress, and one which renders it very popular with females who have to attend to household duties. Where perforated bars are employed for adjusting the sectionsit is necessary to employ one hand to operate the cords while the other hand alone is employed in raising the section, thus making it a very inconvenient and laborious act. The provision of the two cords extending through opposite sides of the frame is another advantage which my mattress possesses, as it enables the retaining-bolts to be retracted from either side of the bed, which cannot be done when one cord alone is used. Where a single cord is employed for this purpose the bed must be located in the room with special reference to said cord or else the bed must be moved away from the wall every time it is desired to raise and lower the hinged section. By providing the frame with two hinged sections instead of one they can be used alternately as bolsters, which arrangement will add to the durability of the bed, as the wear is then not confined to one place, and consequently the springs will not lose their elasticity so soon, neither will the mattress sag down at any one place.

G laz'ms.

I claim as my invention- 1. The specific arrangement of main-frame A a B G, mattress D, hinged section E e, bolsters F, pivoted ratchet-barsH H, I I, ii, spring-bolts J J, K K, L L, l l, pulleys M M, pin 0, and oppositely-operating cords N N, as set forth.

2. The mattress, constructed as herein described, with a hinged bolster-section at each end, each section being capable of being elevated and depressed, and maintained at any desired inclination, by the ratchet-bar I I, it, and bolts L L, under control of cords N N, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM F. WEHRMANN.

Attest:

JOHN K1101}, JAMES H. LAYMAN. 

